Soldering machine for soldering rectilinear and parallel elements

Abstract

A soldering machine for soldering continuously metallic, rectilinear and parallel elements, comprising: a driving device to move forward the elements to be soldered, which elements are disposed in parallel to the forward direction with at least one lower element, at least one higher element disposed on top of the lower element, and one layer of brazing solder interposed between the said elements in the area provided for the welding, a heating station comprising upper and lower heating rollers with incorporated heating means, which rollers, as the elements move forward, respectively roll under the or each lower element and over the or each upper element in the welding area, and a cooling station located downstream of the heating station and comprising lower and upper cooling rollers, which rollers, as the elements move forward, roll respectively under the or each lower element or over the or each upper element, to solidify the solder and to hold the said elements in close contact one against the other while they go through the cooling station.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A soldering machine for soldering continuously metallic, rectilinear and parallel elements, comprising: a driving device to move forward the elements to be soldered, which elements are disposed in parallel to the forward direction with at least one lower element, at least one higher element disposed on top of the lower element, and one layer of brazing solder interposed between the said elements in the area provided for the soldering,   a heating station comprising upper and lower heating rollers with incorporated heating means, which rollers, as the elements move forward, respectively roll under the or each lower element and over the or each upper element in the soldering area, and   a cooling station located downstream of the heating station and comprising lower and upper cooling rollers, which rollers, as the elements move forward, roll respectively under the or each lower element or over the or each upper element, to solidify the solder and to hold the said elements in close contact one against the other whilst they go through the cooling station.   
     
     
       2. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a station for depositing the brazing solder is situated upstream of the heating station. 
     
     
       3. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the station for depositing the brazing solder comprises at least a coating roller dipping into a tank containing the brazing solder with incorporated flux, and on which roller can pass at least the or each upper element in order to apply the brazing solder continuously. 
     
     
       4. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein a station for pre-assembling the or each lower element with the or each upper element is provided between the brazing solder depositing station and the heating station. 
     
     
       5. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling rollers are mounted on a common hollow axis connected to a circuit of cooling fluid. 
     
     
       6. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein electrical elements are fitted in the said heating rollers in order to generate heat where and when the welding actually takes place. 
     
     
       7. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving device comprises an endless conveyor carrying individual members for driving each assembly of elements to be soldered. 
     
     
       8. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for moving the upper and lower heating and cooling rollers with respect to one another between a stand-by position, in which they are apart, and a working position, in which they are brought close together in order to apply the said elements one against the other. 
     
     
       9. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for detecting the position of an element transported by the said driving device and control means for automatically moving the upper and lower rollers with respect to one another depending on the position of the said element detected by the said detector means. 
     
     
       10. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least a lower and an upper train of heating rollers, and a lower and an upper train of cooling rollers, the rollers in each train having a common axis perpendicular to the forward direction followed by the elements. 
     
     
       11. A soldering machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower and upper elements consist respectively of a metal plate and of metal pipes for making a solar energy collector system having said pipes extending parallel to each other and welded on said metal plate.